Armed Forces: Roulement

Lord Astor of Hever: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Philip Hammond) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The next roulement of UK forces in Afghanistan is due to take place in April 2012. The UK's current framework Brigade in Helmand, 20th Armoured Brigade, will be replaced by 12th Mechanized Brigade. The forces deploying include:
	12th Mechanized Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (228)
	Elements of 19th Light Brigade Headquarters
	Headquarters 102 Logistic Brigade
	The King's Royal Hussars
	The Light Dragoons
	Elements of 1st Royal Tank Regiment
	Elements of The Royal Wessex Yeomanry
	19th Regiment Royal Artillery
	Elements of 5th Regiment Royal Artillery
	Elements of 12th Regiment Royal Artillery
	Elements of 16th Regiment Royal Artillery
	Elements of 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery
	Elements of 39th Regiment Royal Artillery
	Elements of 40th Regiment Royal Artillery
	26 Engineer Regiment
	Elements of The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia)
	Elements of 21 Engineer Regiment
	Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
	Elements of 36 Engineer Regiment (Search)
	Elements of 38 Engineer Regiment
	Elements of 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographical)
	Elements of The Military Stabilisation and Support Group
	Elements of 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group
	16th Signal Regiment
	Elements of 10th Signal Regiment
	Elements of 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare)
	Elements of 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support)
	1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards
	1st Battalion The Welsh Guards
	1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment
	3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's Regiment)
	1st Battalion The Royal Welsh
	2nd Battalion The Royal Ghurkha Rifles
	3rd Battalion The Rifles
	Elements of The London Regiment
	Elements of 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment
	Elements of 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment
	Elements of 6th Battalion The Rifles
	Elements of 3 Regiment Army Air Corps
	Elements of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps
	Elements of 6 Regiment Army Air Corps
	Elements of 9 Regiment Army Air Corps
	Elements of Joint Helicopter Support Squadron
	Elements of Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Support Battalion
	4 Logistic Support Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
	10 The Queen's Own Ghurkha Logistic Regiment
	Elements of 9 Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of 23 Pioneer Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of 24 Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of 27 Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of 29 Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of 88 Postal and Courier Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of 148 Expeditionary Force Institute Squadron (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of 152 Transport Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of 159 Supply Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of 162 Movement Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of 166 Supply Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of 151 Transport Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of the Catering Support Regiment (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
	Elements of the Operational Headquarters Support Group (Volunteers), The Royal Logistic Corps
	4th Medical Regiment
	22nd Field Hospital
	Elements of 254 Medical Regiment (Volunteers)
	4th Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
	Elements of 104 Force Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
	174 Provost Company Royal Military Police
	Elements of 160 Provost Company Royal Military Police
	Elements of Special Investigations Branch United Kingdom
	Elements of The Military Provost Staff
	Elements of 1st Military Working Dogs Regiment
	Elements of 1st Military Intelligence Battalion
	Elements of 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion
	Elements of 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion
	Elements of 4th Military Intelligence Battalion
	Elements of 5th Military Intelligence Battalion
	Elements of The Defence Cultural Specialist Unit
	Elements of 15 Psychological Operations Group
	604 Tactical Air Control Party
	614 Tactical Air Control Party
	621 Tactical Air Control Party
	632 Tactical Air Control Party
	2 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron, Royal Air Force
	Elements of 24 Squadron, Royal Air Force
	Elements of 30 Squadron, Royal Air Force
	12(B) Squadron, Royal Air Force
	Elements of 5 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron, Royal Air Force
	Elements of 32 Squadron Royal Air Force
	Elements of 28 Squadron, Royal Air Force
	Elements of 216 Squadron Royal Air Force
	Elements of 101 Squadron Royal Air Force
	Elements of 39 Squadron Royal Air Force
	Elements of 27 Squadron, Royal Air Force
	Elements of 18 Squadron, Royal Air Force
	617 Squadron, Royal Air Force
	Elements of 99 Squadron Royal Air Force
	Elements of 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force
	Number 5 Royal Air Force, Force Protection Wing Headquarters
	Elements of Number 2 Royal Air Force Police Wing
	Elements of Number 3 Royal Air Force Police Wing
	51 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment
	Elements of the Tactical Supply Wing, Royal Air Force
	Elements of 1 Air Mobility Wing, Royal Air Force
	Elements of 1 Air Control Centre, Royal Air Force
	Elements of 90 Signals Unit, Royal Air Force
	Elements of 2 (Mechanical Transport) Squadron, Royal Air Force
	Elements of 5001 Squadron, Royal Air Force
	Elements of 3 Mobile Catering Squadron
	Elements of Tactical Medical Wing
	Elements of 1 (Expeditionary Logistics) Squadron
	Elements of 93 (Expeditionary Armaments) Squadron
	Elements of Tactical Imagery Wing
	Elements of 5131(BD) Squadron
	Volunteer and ex-regular members of the Reserve Forces will continue to deploy to Afghanistan as part of this integrated force package, and we expect to issue around 300 call-out notices. On completion of their mobilisation procedures, the reservists will undertake a period of training and, where applicable, integration with their respective receiving units. The majority will serve on operations for around six months. As part of this commitment, we expect up to six members of the sponsored reserves to be in theatre at any one time.
	The UK's conventional force level is expected to remain at 9,500 for the duration of the deployment.
	I shall make a further Statement on the units we expect to serve under 12th Mechanized Brigade's planned replacement formation, 4th Mechanized Brigade, nearer the time of their deployment.

Central Government: Devolution of Power

Baroness Hanham: My right honourable friend the Minister for Decentralisation and Cities (Greg Clark) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	On 8 December the Government launched Unlocking Growth in Cities, which set out the terms for a programme of city deals-binding agreements which enable cities to negotiate the devolution of the specific powers, resources and responsibilities required to meet locally determined economic and social objectives. We have been clear that we are determined to work flexibly to promote growth, to encourage local initiative and willing to transfer significant powers to cities.
	The Government have now considered the proposals brought forward by Liverpool for a city deal in response to this challenge. The Government recognise that it represents an ambitious economic package aimed at driving growth in Liverpool, and that it is an important part of the city's response to Lord Heseltine and Sir Terry Leahy's "Rebalancing Britain" report on the Liverpool economy.
	I am therefore pleased to inform the House that the Government have approved the following proposals from Liverpool as a city deal:
	subject to HM Treasury clearance of a business case and agreement with the local enterprise partnership, the Government will designate a new enterprise zone covering the city fringe buffer zone and central business district. The growth in business rates income from the enterprise zone will go to the Liverpool City Region local enterprise partnership, in line with the Government's wider enterprise zone policy and our ambition to see a city-region wide approach to growth and regeneration. The Government recognise that Liverpool has ambitious plans to develop five further priority economic development areas (proposed mayoral development zones) in the city, and its ambition to reinvest rates retained from this new enterprise zone within the city. Any retention of enterprise zone business rates by the city council will need to be negotiated between Liverpool and the local enterprise partnership;the creation of what Liverpool propose to term a mayoral investment board that will oversee the city's economic and housing strategy as well as oversight of the development of Homes and Communities Agency's land assets and other economic development priorities including those linked to the enterprise and proposed mayoral development zones. This arrangement will be based on the principle that the Homes and Communities Agency will retain legal ownership and accountable body status for current Homes and Communities Agency assets;the Department for Work and Pensions will work with Liverpool to develop welfare pilots to deliver a localised programme of support for people leaving the Work programme and in particular include a youth contract pathfinder. It is expected that this will improve the benefit claims experience for customers while making efficiency savings for both the city and the Department for Work and Pensions; increase the numbers of claimants moving into work; and reduce benefit fraud and error;a secondary school investment plan funded by the council for up to 12 new-build secondary schools, including at least six new academies. These schools will be subject to the normal academy converter application process, and once in place the council will not be part of their ongoing governance or financial management. Liverpool has made clear its commitment to ensure that the schools in the city support the local skills agenda and the local economy. The Government therefore expect the council to be proactive and work with the schools, the private sector and the universities in Liverpool to help them develop specialisms and identify and attract appropriate sponsors;the Government are prepared to support initiatives that boost economic growth and development. The Department for Communities and Local Government already supports economic development in local authorities and is therefore prepared to work closely with the city as Liverpool implements its vision for economic development. As part of that close working, the Department for Communities and Local Government will contribute £75 million over the remaining years of the spending review period, subject to a strong robust business case, to be cleared by HM Treasury, demonstrating clear value for money; andthe Government set out in Unlocking Growth in Cities that where cities want to take on significant new powers and funding streams, they will need to demonstrate strong, accountable leadership, an ambitious agenda for the economic future of their area, effective decision-making structures, and private sector involvement and leadership. The appropriate governance structure may be different for each city, and no city deal is conditional on having any particular governance arrangement. However, the Government believe that directly elected mayors are one way of providing the strong, visible and accountable leadership; so, subject to approval by the council, the Government can confirm that a move towards a directly elected mayor and the creation of a mayoral development corporation would satisfy their governance arrangement requirements to strengthen leadership and accountability in Liverpool City Council.
	The Government place great importance on local enterprise partnerships to drive economic development, and therefore expect Liverpool to continue to work closely with the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and neighbouring authorities to ensure their support for this city deal and to take it forward, as well as future decentralisation packages covering the local enterprise partnership area.

Council for Science and Technology

Baroness Wilcox: My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science (David Willetts) has today made the following Statement.
	I would like to inform the House that today the Prime Minister has appointed Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell as the independent co-chair to the Council for Science and Technology (CST).
	Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell is president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester and was appointed to the CST as a member in June 2011.
	The CST is the UK Government's top-level advisory body on science and technology policy issues. It reports to the Prime Minister.
	The appointment process was made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments' code of practice for ministerial appointments to public bodies.
	Full details of CST's terms of reference and organisation can be found at http://www.bis.gov.uk/cst.

Cycling and Walking

Earl Attlee: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Norman Baker) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
	I am today announcing a £15 million growth package for cycling and walking measures across the country that will support economic growth and help to cut carbon, while promoting a healthier lifestyle.
	The projects funded by this package support the key objectives of the £560 million local sustainable transport fund-building a strong economy and tackling carbon. This additional £15 million funding will be geared to supporting jobs, enhancing access to employment and supporting the end to end journey, helping to bring about changing patterns of travel behaviour and encouraging greater use of more sustainable transport modes.
	The projects will be delivered to meet local demand and needs, and will be implemented through Sustrans and the Cycle Rail Working Group.
	Sustrans will receive £8 million to create routes along the lines of its successful People's Millions Connect2 programme, further building on the department's investment in links to schools, which have seen the construction of safe, traffic free and traffic calmed routes for cyclists and pedestrians between schools and the national cycle network.
	The Cycle Rail Working Group will receive £7 million to invest in improving integration between cycle and rail at stations across the country, including through improved cycle facilities at stations. This additional sum will complement other projects already being delivered by Network Rail, which is itself delivering a £7 million programme of cycle facilities at stations and safe access routes to stations.
	Further details of the projects to be taken forward will be announced by press notice, and deposited in the Libraries of the House, in March.

Export Control

Baroness Wilcox: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Dr Vince Cable) has today made the following Statement.
	My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary (William Hague) announced to the House on 13 October 2011 the conclusions of his review of defence and security export policy in the light of events in the Middle East and north Africa. It concluded that there were no fundamental flaws with the UK strategic export licensing system. We share this view. However, it did identify areas where our system could be further strengthened. To this end, he announced a package of proposals that included the introduction of a mechanism to allow the immediate suspension of pending licence applications to countries experiencing a sharp deterioration in security or stability, and a commitment to continue to work to improve public information on defence and security exports, including enhanced transparency of routine export licensing decisions and how we respond during a crisis.
	We have worked closely in developing the suspension mechanism, and are pleased to report that this suspension mechanism is now in place. As a result of this change the Government have ensured that export licensing policy is now more responsive to rapidly changing circumstances overseas.
	The new suspension mechanism will allow the Government to quickly suspend the processing of pending licence applications to countries experiencing a sharp deterioration in security or stability. Suspension will not be invoked automatically or lightly, but triggered for example when conflict or crisis conditions change the risk suddenly, or make conducting a proper risk assessment difficult. A case by case assessment of a particular situation will be necessary to determine whether a licensing suspension is appropriate.
	Any decision to suspend will be taken by the licensing authority based on advice from relevant government departments and reporting from our diplomatic posts. Parliament, industry and the media will be informed of any suspension.
	Suspension will be tailored to the circumstances in play and will not necessarily apply to all export licence applications to a country, but may instead be for applications for particular equipment (e.g. crowd control goods), or for applications for equipment going to a particular end user.
	If a decision to suspend is made, work on licence applications in the pipeline will be stopped and no further licences issued pending ministerial review. Once the suspension is lifted, applications will not be required to be resubmitted.
	The Ministry of Defence will apply any licensing suspension decision to MoD Form 680 applications, for which it is the government authority, and to the assessment against the consolidated criteria of gifting cases, which it co-ordinates on behalf of the Government.
	Suspension will be lifted (or partially lifted) where the licensing authority considers it appropriate to do so.
	Transparency is also crucial because confidence in the workings of the export licensing system needs to be shared by Parliament and by the public. The system should not just be working properly; it should also be seen to do so.
	I am therefore announcing today a number of proposals to improve the transparency of the export licensing system. These proposals build on my right honourable friend's review, and we intend to seek the views of interested parties, including the representatives of exporters and non-governmental organisations, on how they will work.
	The first proposal is to insert into all open export licences a provision requiring the exporter to report periodically on transactions undertaken under these licences. The Government will then publish this information.
	The second proposal concerns information contained in standard export licence applications. Currently all such applications are made in confidence, which makes it difficult to make public any more information than is already disclosed in the Government's annual and quarterly reports. The Export Control Organisation considers that certain additional information contained in licence applications could be made public without causing concern to exporters. I will explore ways of making this additional information public while protecting any sensitive material.
	The third proposal is to appoint an independent person to scrutinise the operation of the export control organisation's licensing process. The role of this independent person would be to confirm that the process is indeed being followed correctly and report on their work.
	In considering these proposals we intend to consult the various interested parties to reach an outcome which achieves the Government's objective of increased transparency while at the same time imposing the minimum additional burden on exporters.
	We will, simultaneously, be pursuing further changes to the strategic licensing system to make it more efficient and customer-focused, while maintaining the integrity of the process. Working together, my right honourable friend and I remain committed to robust and effective national and global controls to help prevent exports that could undermine our own security or core values of human rights and democracy; to protect our security through strategic defence relationships; and to promote our prosperity by allowing British defence and security industries to operate effectively in the global defence market.
	I intend to make a further announcement to Parliament, setting out the Government's conclusions and plans for implementing any further changes, before the Summer Recess.

Ministry of Defence: Votes A Annual Estimate

Lord Astor of Hever: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Philip Hammond) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The Ministry of Defence Votes A Estimate 2012-13, will be laid before the House on 8 February 2012 as HC 1735. This outlines the maximum numbers of personnel to be maintained for each service in the Armed Forces during financial year 2012-13.
	These numbers do not constitute the trained requirement of the Armed Forces, which are published separately in the UK Armed Forces quarterly manning report.

Ministry of Defence: Votes A Supplementary Estimate

Lord Astor of Hever: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Philip Hammond) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The Ministry of Defence Votes A Supplementary Estimate 2011-12 will be laid before the House on 8 February 2012 as HC 1745. This outlines the increased maximum numbers of personnel to be maintained for service in the Reserve Naval and Marines Forces and the Reserve Land Forces during financial year 2011-12.
	These numbers do not constitute the trained requirement of the Armed Forces, which are published separately in the UK Armed Forces quarterly manning report.

Pensions

Lord Sassoon: My right honourable friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Danny Alexander) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Legislation governing public service pensions requires them to be increased annually by the same percentage as additional pensions (state earnings related pension and state second pension). Public service pensions will therefore be increased from 9 April 2012 by 5.2 per cent, in line with the annual increase in the consumer prices index up to September 2011, except for those public service pensions which have been in payment for less than a year, which will receive a pro-rata increase.

Public Health

Earl Howe: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Anne Milton) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Today we have laid before Parliament the Government's response to Health Select Committee report on public health (Cm 8290). The response summarises the Government's plans to modernise the public health system, including giving local authorities a new leadership role in public health and the creation of an integrated public health body, Public Health England, to provide expert advice and support.
	Copies of the Government's response are available to honourable Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.